CIMSS-NOAA Weekly Report [ Archive ]

IN THE PRESS:

ITEMS FOR THE ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE ASSISTANT ADMINISTRATOR:

ITEMS FOR THE OFFICE DIRECTOR, ORA:

Canadian Meteorological Centre Reports Positive Impact of MODIS Winds: The Canadian Meteorological Centre (CMC) numerical weather prediction (NWP) system is demonstrating a positive impact on forecasts when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) polar winds are assimilated, particularly over the Arctic and Southern Hemisphere (poleward of 20 degrees south latitude).  The results are part of an experiment that began November 5, 2003 and involves CMC, the NASA Global Modeling and Assimilation Office (GFMAO, associated with the Joint Center for Satellite Data Assimilation), the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF), and the UK MetOffice.  All centers are performing experiments with winds generated by the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) and independently by the Office of Research and Applications Forecast Products Development Team (FPDT).  Results from the other NWP centers will be reported as they become available. (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605, J. Daniels, E/RA2, 301-763-8204 D. Santek, CIMSS, 608-263-7410, C. Velden, CIMSS, 608-262-9168)

Journal Paper Published on Inversion Characteristics from MODIS: A paper titled "Detection and analysis of clear sky, low-level atmospheric temperature inversions with MODIS", by Y. Liu (Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, CIMSS) and J. Key, was published in the Journal of Atmospheric and Oceanic Technology (2003, 20, 1727-1737).  The paper presents a method for estimating low-level atmospheric temperature inversion strength, defined as the temperature difference across the inversion, and height using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS).  Inversion strength can be estimated with an uncertainty of 2-3 C; the uncertainty in inversion height is 100-200 m.  (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605)

ITEMS FOR THE DIVISION CHIEF, ARAD

Data Provided to University of Edinburgh:  High resolution cloud mask and sea surface temperature data from the Clouds from the Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) extended system (CLAVR-x) were requested by the Institute for Meteorology at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.  The ORA system was modified to meet the specific demands of the request and the OSDPD version will be modified to routinely provide this data.  The CLAVR-x data is used for the  development of a blended of sea surface temperature (SST) product from multiple sensors. This group at the University of Edinburgh collaborates with ORA on SST development. (A. Heidinger, E/RA2, 608-263-6757)

Surface Features Evident on GOES Imager Water Vapor Channel Data: Surface features across the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada (the northern Great Lakes, coastal New England, and the Saint Lawrence) were evident on 6.5 micrometer "water vapor channel" data from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES-12) imager on January 13-14, 2004. The air mass across that region was extremely cold and dry, and water vapor weighting functions calculated from representative rawinsonde data showed that the radiation sensed by this channel originated from unusually low levels of the troposphere (the GOES imager water vapor weighting function normally peaks around the 400 millibar level, nearly 7 kilometers above ground level). Image examples and animations are available on the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (CIMSS) GOES Gallery (http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/goes/misc/040113/040113.html). (S. Bachmeier, CIMSS, 608-263-3958, M. Gunshor, CIMSS, 608-263-1146)

Figure caption: GOES-12 imager 6.5 micrometer "water vapor channel" image, with and without the map overlay, showing surface features which were visible on January 14, 2004.

AMS Annual Meeting: R. Aune and T. Schmit attended the annual American Meteorological Society (AMS) meeting in Seattle, Washington.  R. Aune gave an oral presentation titled: "An Objective Nowcasting Tool that Incorporates Geostationary Satellite Measurements", with authors R. M. Aune and R. Petersen.  R. Aune also participated in the daily weather brief showcasing the latest applications of GOES sounder data to numerical weather prediction.  T. Schmit gave an oral presentation titled "Study of the Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) on the GOES-R and Beyond" which summarized the spectral band selection and uses of the ABI.  The authors are T. J. Schmit, W. P. Menzel, J. Gurka, J. Li, M. M. Gunshor, C. C. Schmidt, J. Sieglaff. (T. Schmit, E/RA2, 608-263-0291, R. Aune, E/RA2, 608-262-1071)

Manuscript Reviewed: J. Key reviewed a paper for Remote Sensing of Environment on a parallel processing image analysis system that utilizes a Linux cluster.  (J. Key, E/RA2, 608-263-2605)

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